Admissions Policy

Application Procedure

By the end of January, the school will announce in the local newspaper and on the school website the time period it will accept student applications for Preschool through Grade 1. The application period for these grade levels is usually 10 days. The school will not accept applications after this period.

By the 10th of March, the school will announce in the local newspaper and on its website when it will accept applications for Grades 2 through 11. The application period for these grade levels is usually 10 days in the beginning of April. The school will not accept applications after this period.

The Process

Age Requirement for Entry into Preschool through Grade One

The age requirement for entry into Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten, or Grade 1, is that children must have reached at least the age of 4 (Lower KG), 5 (Upper KG), or 6 (Grade 1) by December 31 of the year they have entered school. Kindergarten students must be toilet-trained, responsive, interactive, and generally be “ready for school”.

Lower Preschool –

Round 1: Siblings and Staff Children

The Lower School first round review of applications will include children of staff members who have been fulltime employees for at least one year and applications for siblings. Both are reviewed based on criteria that measure each family’s historical cooperation with the school including 1) level of cooperation and involvement, 2) adherence to our school policies and 3) upholding of the school’s Quaker values. Except staff children, all applicants and their parents are required to attend the Open House. Siblings are not guaranteed a place.

Round 2: Alumni Children

The second round review is for children of RFS alumni. All applicants and their parents are required to attend the Open House and some may be asked to participate in an interview. Criteria includes: 1) educational and parenting philosophy; 2) commitment and indicated future involvement in child’s education and school life; 3) commitment to RFS Quaker values. In case of space limitations, the number of alumni parents as well as the extended families’ relationship with RFS will be considered. Children of alumni are not guaranteed a place.

Round 3: New Families

At least eight percent of available vacancies will go to children of new families who are not represented in the first or second rounds. At this point, the school will review under-represented groups to ensure diversity in its student body. For example, girls accepted will constitute no less than 50 percent (preferably 55 percent).

All applicants and their parents are required to attend the Open House and some may be asked to participate in an interview. Applications are designed to determine the best fit between the school needs and the family/child. Criteria includes: 1) educational and parenting philosophy; 2) commitment and indicated future involvement in child’s education and school life; 3) commitment to RFS Quaker values.

Lottery

For Rounds 1, 2, and 3, a lottery will be used when the number of applicants of similar categories and with similar assessments are greater than the number of vacancies available.

Children with Learning Difficulties: In addition to the process and criteria listed above, parents of children with learning difficulties will be interviewed. Parents will need to bring with them professional documentation of their child’s diagnosis and developmental assessment by a specialized physician which includes implications and recommendations for his/her schooling. Additionally, due to capacity limitations, the school will accept a maximum of three Lower KG students with identified learning difficulties each year.

*If RFS does not currently provide the services required by the student’s needs, the school reserves the right to require parents to provide additional support and/or financial resources to ensure the student can be appropriately accommodated.

Upper Preschool and Grade 1

For 2016-17, very limited places are available for children in Upper Kindergarten and 1st Grade. In processing the applications, priority is given to parents who already have children in the school, who are RFS employees, are RFS alumni, and who have applied in previous years. Due to the limited number of vacancies for Upper Kindergarten, no Open House will be held. For 1st grade, and upon submitting their applications, alumni parents and new parents are invited with their children to attend an Open House, Attending the Open House is an essential part of the application process. Applications are reviewed according to criteria designed to determine the best fit between the school resources and the needs of the family/child. Criteria include: 1) educational and parenting philosophy; 2) commitment and indicated future involvement in the child’s education; 3) commitment to RFS values.

Grade 2 through Grade 11

A limited number of places may be available for children in Grade 2 through 11. All applicants are required to perform an admission test in English, Arabic and Math, and some applicants may be invited for an interview. The admission test scores are compared to the performance of the school’s students at the same grade level, and are interpreted as an indication of the student’s level of abilities in these subjects. Only applicants of whom can be expected that they will be successful at RFS, are considered for acceptance. Other considerations may include letters of recommendation, or “good conduct” letters.

Admissions Decisions and Registration

Notification of acceptance for Kindergarten applicants will be in the second week of April, applicants for other grade levels will be notified before the second week of May. Parents whose children are not accepted will be notified as well. All parents must sign on the application form that they will accept the decision of the school, and that they will not contest the decision if it means that their child has not been accepted.

If a child has been accepted, RFS requires a school transfer certificate from the previous school, as well as a certificate from the previous school indicating outstanding debts or financial arrangements have been settled. The school also requires that parents of accepted children pay the nonrefundable enrollment fee, and sign in writing that they abide by the rules of the school. Only when all these conditions have been met, is the child officially admitted.

Parents of children who have been admitted must pay a registration fee and make the first tuition payment to secure a place for their children. This first payment is refundable until August 10, which means that parents no longer wishing to enroll their children will be fully reimbursed, provided they inform the school on or before August 10. Please note that the registration fee is not refundable.